[ste]

Hi

Anybody got experience in working for a US investment bank as a software developer (front office) and could let me know any insights into working hours and other work-life balance related issues?

I can potentially make a move to investment banking software development. I do enjoy a challenging work environment and I'm definitely not a 9-5 person. However, I do value my personal life and I am not willing to give it up. I work to live and not the other way round basically.

Any experiences, thoughts, comments?

[freeier]

i think that's the worst job in terms of hours... 8-P, pay is good.
unless u are in a very lax place (some french or dutch banks maybe)... else..

on the other hand, if u are doing more quant type of development and have the aspiration to go into middle office or even front office eventually (not in IT domain) then its good to take that step.

[dougp]

Guess it depends on the bank, and who you report to. If by "front office" you mean you sit on the trading floor and report directly in to the business then you're likely going to be under more pressure to work trader's hours (without trader's pay!). If you're doing front office development but in an IT environment rather than on the floor, you may have it a bit easier.

"Normal" hours for me would be something like 8 to 6, but the last couple of months and at least the next couple are more like 7:30 to 8, 9, 10...

It can certainly be challenging (have you ever tried getting sense out of a trader??) and interesting, and should pay appropriately to compensate for the hours. Up to you what the acceptable balance is.

I've been doing this for a fair few years - feel free to PM me if you want any more info.

[freeier]

Originally Posted by dougp

It can certainly be challenging (have you ever tried getting sense out of a trader??) and interesting, and should pay appropriately to compensate for the hours. Up to you what the acceptable balance is.

hahaa.. that's discrimination. 8-P
but nevertheless, i understand what you mean.
especially the old time traders.. the younger ones these days are prob as good in programming as most programmers.

[ste]

Thank you for the information guys, I really appreciate it.

I was told it is 70% development and 30% support, definitely not on the trading floor. So from what I gathered it should be acceptable to me.

[beachball]

I do not understand the comment about hours that traders work? S&T is a stressful environment in many ways, but the hours are fantastic. Typically an early start to the day (there are exceptions depending on what markets you deal in/who your clients are), but most of the traders knock off in the afternoon even before my secretary does - and many, many hours before I leave the office...

Ste: Good luck! Hope it works out and you like it.

[dougp]

Originally Posted by freeier

the younger ones these days are prob as good in programming as most programmers.

I know a (very) few who have crossed over from IT who I might trust, but otherwise no, not in any professional sense. It's all ok until their pretty Excel spreadsheet goes t*tsup, at which point it magically becomes an IT responsibility. Cynical? Me? Oh yeah.

Sorry, but I've found way too many business critical systems running on Access or Excel under a trader's desk with no backup and no-one knowing quite how it works.

Anyway, off-topic. Could be an interesting thread though....

Traders?

(ok, deep breath, calm down, think peaceful thoughts... )

[freeier]

front office development is a crazy job... like i said, if u have longer term aspiration, do it. the money shld be fairly good.

if u just want a nice little career with good time and decent pay, then its not worth the deal

[freeier]

Originally Posted by dougp

I know a (very) few who have crossed over from IT who I might trust, but otherwise no, not in any professional sense. It's all ok until their pretty Excel spreadsheet goes t*tsup, at which point it magically becomes an IT responsibility. Cynical? Me? Oh yeah.

Sorry, but I've found way too many business critical systems running on Access or Excel under a trader's desk with no backup and no-one knowing quite how it works.

its not really off topic. she has to know what's she jumping into. 8-P

if the traders were to rely on the IT guys to develop the mission critical systems, then by that time it is no longer mission critical. 8-)

not sure which group of traders u work for. cash ? exotics ?

[dougp]

Originally Posted by beachball

I do not understand the comment about hours that traders work?

Again, depends on the bank, the department, the trader etc etc. Not unusual to find quite a few still around at 9 or 10pm here. When I was in the Sydney office it was a different story - most of the traders seemed to work from half an hour before market open to 5 minutes after market close, with a 1.5 hour lunch break!

Originally Posted by freeier

if the traders were to rely on the IT guys to develop the mission critical systems, then by that time it is no longer mission critical. 8-)

Ouch! I'll have you know our new streamlined process allows us to initiate a new small-scale development in a mere matter of months!